Following the detention of Binance executives, Nigerian officials have now reportedly requested data on the exchange’s top 100 largest customers.
Nigeria has once again reemerged in the spotlight following reports of local authorities allegedly demanding Binance to pay a $10 billion fine due to foreign exchange rate manipulation tied to the naira currency. This time, officials are reportedly seeking access to Binance’s top 100 users in the country, along with six months of transaction history, the Financial Times has learned, citing correspondence between Nigerian officials and the exchange.
According to the report, Nigeria’s national security adviser’s office is also pressing Binance to address any outstanding tax obligations. Crypto.news reached out to Binance for comment on the matter but has not heard back before press time.
Recent actions by Nigerian officials follow the detention of Binance’s two executives — Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan — who play significant roles in Binance’s operations in Africa. According to reports, the two are being held without charge, but with their phones and passports confiscated.
The detention appears to be part of Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize the naira and curb currency speculation through crypto exchanges. As crypto.news earlier reported, the Nigerian government previously ordered telecom and internet service providers to restrict access to several crypto exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken in a bid to curb currency depreciation. In response, Binance removed the naira for trading from its website.
